Outgoing UN envoy says US still strongest nation

Published 7:00 pm, Saturday, January 17, 2009

UNITED NATIONS

By EDITH M. LEDERER

Associated Press

Zalmay Khalilzad steps down as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations when Barack Obama is inaugurated on Tuesday, confident the United States even at its weakest moments remains the strongest nation in the world because of its unique combination of economic, military, political and cultural power.

Khalilzad said Russia remains a key global player while China and India are increasing their influence, especially economically. But no country has the "comprehensiveness of power" that the United States has.

"I think there is no question that the United States remains uniquely in a role of a leading nation in the world," he told The Associated Press in a farewell interview. "Even in our weakest moments, we are stronger than anyone else, and it would be a mistake on the part of anyone to bet against the United States."

Khalilzad has a unique view of the United States, his adopted country. Born in Afghanistan, he came to America as an exchange student, then went to college in Beirut.

He then returned to the U.S. where he earned a doctorate, became a professor and a favorite of Republican presidents, especially George W. Bush who gave him two of the toughest diplomatic assignments -- as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and then Iraq -- before sending him to the United Nations.

He said Americans have qualities that will enable them to deal with the current economic crisis -- and whatever crises emerge in the coming years.

"We're practical people. We think for every problem, there is a solution and we don't remain committed to the wrong course for a long time because of history or ideology. Our strength is adjusting, and we can adjust again. Innovation and pragmatism -- this is America for you," he said.

The Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the major geopolitical headaches for the world. The issues are daunting: Extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the risk of Iraq unraveling, the Iran nuclear issue, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He noted that Obama has talked about engaging Iran but he advised the U.S. must also be prepared to put more pressure on Iran "if there is any chance for success."

The overall thrust of U.S. policy from now on should be to increasingly bring countries together and lead collective responses to the global challenges, Khalilzad said.

"It's better if you can do ... collective responses," he said. "It's cheaper if you can do it, and I think there's many challenges you cannot succeed unless you do that."

The major international arena that promotes collective action is the U.N., where the 57-year-old Khalilzad has spend the last 21 months pushing Bush's agenda. Friendly and affable, he speaks four languages and a smattering of several others.

Rumors have been rife for months that Khalilzad was planning to take his diplomatic skills to Afghanistan and run for president -- an idea he has repeatedly and vehemently denied, saying he was staying in the U.S.

This week, Khalilzad said he will head to Washington, where he will divide his time between the public policy research group Center for Strategic and International Studies and a group he is setting up to provide advice and analysis on issues facing the Middle East. He also will work on humanitarian and education issues, he said.

His successor, Susan Rice, who is awaiting confirmation by the Senate, visited the U.S. Mission to the United Nations several weeks ago and Khalilzad said he gave her advice, which he did not disclose.

Khalilzad, known to his friends as "Zal," said there were several surprises in the U.N. job -- and one was his council colleagues.

"The impression I had in preparation for coming here was that the environment would be hostile toward the U.S.," he said. "I did not find that. ... I was very well received and I think people want to engage the U.S. and they want the U.S. attention."

Still, he said he was surprised at how much time was spent "finding alternative words, concepts, to say the same thing," in order to get other countries to support a U.N. resolution.

Managing U.S. relations with Russia "has been one of the challenges in this job," he said.

"We have had sometimes tough exchanges on Georgia," he said. "But at other times we have worked together, and I've always kept a channel of communications open to them, even when we have had these clashes."